JP2006139818A - Reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promptly reproduce an audio file needed to be reproduced even when an another audio file is being reproduced. <P>SOLUTION: The priority is recorded for every audio file stored in a RAM 12. When an audio file is read out and is being reproduced by an audio circuit 20 and a sound system 19, if reproduction of an another audio file is instructed, the priority of the audio file being reproduced and the designated audio file are compared with each other and the audio file having the higher priority is preferentially reproduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a playback device for playing back an audio file.

2. Description of the Related Art A playback device is known that plays back an audio file when one of the multiple audio files is selected and a playback switch is pressed. In such a playback apparatus, when a time (schedule) for playing back an audio file is set, the audio file is automatically played when that time arrives. Such a conventional playback device (see Patent Document 1) has a schedule function of playing back the contents of an audio file at a set date and time, and the audio file of the date selected to play the audio file is recorded. The number of cases and the total number of audio files recorded for the schedule can be switched and displayed on the display means.
JP 2000-260171 A

  In a conventional audio file playback device, other audio files cannot be played back during playback of the audio file. When it is desired to play another audio file during playback of the audio file, it has been necessary to press the playback stop switch to stop the audio file being played back or until playback of the audio file being played ends. Further, if there is an audio file being played back when the scheduled time arrives during playback of the audio file, playback of the scheduled audio file is not started. As described above, there is a problem in that an audio file that needs to be reproduced cannot be quickly reproduced during reproduction of the audio file.

Although it is technically feasible to play back a plurality of audio files simultaneously in a conventional playback device, only one audio file is played back so that a plurality of audio files cannot be played back simultaneously. . This is because there are cases where announcements such as concert venues and department stores are recorded as audio files to be played back by a playback device. This is because each of the reproduced voices (announcements) is difficult to hear. That is, if a plurality of audio files are played back simultaneously, it cannot serve as an announcement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a playback apparatus capable of quickly playing back an audio file that needs to be played even during playback of the audio file.

  In order to achieve the above object, the playback device of the present invention, when starting playback of an audio file, if another audio file is being played back, the audio file being played back and the audio that has been instructed to start playback. The most important feature is that the priority is compared with the file and an audio file with a high priority is played back.

  According to the present invention, when another audio file is being reproduced when starting reproduction of the audio file, the priority between the audio file being reproduced and the audio file instructed to start reproduction is compared, By playing an audio file with a high priority, an audio file with a high priority that needs to be played can be quickly played even while the audio file is being played.

  The purpose is to provide a playback device that can quickly play back an audio file that needs to be played even while the audio file is being played. If it was in the middle, it was realized by comparing the priorities of the audio file being played and the audio file instructed to start playback, and playing the audio file with the higher priority.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an audio file playback apparatus 1 including a playback program according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reproduction apparatus according to the present invention is realized by executing the reproduction program in the reproduction apparatus 1 having a configuration substantially similar to that of the personal computer.
In the playback apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 controls the overall operation of the playback apparatus 1 and executes operation software such as a playback program. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 stores at least operation software such as a reproduction program executed by the CPU 10, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12 stores various data such as a work area of the CPU 10 and an audio file. A storage area is set. By making this ROM 11 a rewritable ROM such as a flash memory, the operation software can be rewritten and the operation software can be easily upgraded. In addition, voice file data prepared in advance in the ROM 11 may be stored.

  The display circuit 14 includes a display unit 13 such as a liquid crystal display, displays an audio file recording / playback setting screen or the like on the display unit 13, and the priority and volume of the audio file when recording / playing back using the GUI. Has been configured to be set. The detection circuit 16 detects an event of the operation unit 15 by scanning the operation unit 15 such as a panel operator or a pointer device, and outputs an event output corresponding to the operation unit 15 having the event. The communication interface (I / F) 18 is an interface for connecting the playback device 1 to a communication network such as a LAN (local area network), the Internet, or a telephone line, and is connected to the external control device 17 via the communication network. be able to. As a result, the audio file can be reproduced by giving an instruction to start reproduction of the audio file from the external control device 17 to the reproducing apparatus 1. In addition, various programs and data can be downloaded from the external control device 17. The downloaded program and data are stored in the RAM 12 or a hard disk device (not shown). The audio circuit 20 decodes the read audio file data instructed to start reproduction and outputs an analog audio signal. The audio signal output from the audio circuit 20 is supplied to the sound system 19 and emitted from a speaker or the like. The sound system 19 can perform volume control and sound quality control. Each of these units is connected to the communication bus 21.

  In the playback device 1 according to the present invention configured as described above, a plurality of audio files are stored in a storage device such as the RAM 12, and the stored audio files are composed of data in PCM, DPCM or ADPCM format, The priority is recorded for each audio file. This priority is represented by any numerical value from 1 to 10, for example, and the higher the numerical value, the higher the priority. The priority for each audio file is set by the user. If any one of the audio files is read and being reproduced in the reproduction apparatus 1, and if an instruction to reproduce another audio file is given, the priority between the audio file being reproduced and the designated audio file is given priority. The audio files having higher priority are preferentially reproduced by comparing the degrees. For example, as a type of audio file stored in the RAM 12 or the like, a BGM audio file that reproduces background music (BGM), a schedule audio file that is scheduled to be reproduced at a set time, and an emergency that reproduces an emergency announcement When there is an audio file, the priority of the emergency audio file is made highest, then the priority of the schedule audio file is made higher, and the priority of the BGM audio file is made the lowest.

  In this case, when the playback device 1 is installed in a concert hall or department store and the BGM audio file is being played back, when the playback time of the schedule audio file comes and a playback instruction for the schedule audio file is given. The schedule audio file having a high priority is reproduced by the reproducing apparatus 1 instead of the BGM audio file, and the audio flows to the concert venue or department store. Further, when an emergency situation occurs and a playback instruction for an emergency voice file is given when a BGM voice file or a schedule voice file is being played back, the priority is changed to the BGM voice file or the schedule voice file. The emergency audio file having a high level is reproduced by the reproducing apparatus 1 and an urgent announcement flows to the concert venue or department store. Further, when the emergency audio file is being played back, the schedule audio file having a lower priority than the emergency audio file is reproduced by the playback device even if the playback time of the schedule audio file comes and the playback instruction of the schedule audio file is instructed. The emergency audio file continues to be reproduced without being reproduced at 1. This prevents a plurality of audio files from being reproduced at the same time in an announcement at the assumed venue or department store, and prevents a plurality of sounds from being reproduced simultaneously. Therefore, the announcement to be reproduced can be heard reliably. Thus, the playback apparatus 1 can play back important audio files quickly and reliably.

The operation of the playback apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of the playback start process shown in FIG.
The reproduction start process is performed when a reproduction start instruction for a new audio file is detected, when a start switch operation in the operation unit 15 is detected by the detection circuit 16, or when a reproduction start instruction is received from the external control device 17. , It is activated when one of the times when it is detected that the time set in the schedule has arrived. When the reproduction start process is started, an audio file to be newly reproduced, that is, a target audio file is determined in step S10. In this case, when the operation of the start switch is detected, the audio file selected by the selection switch in the operation unit 15 is determined as the target audio file. When a reproduction start instruction is received from the external control device 17, the audio file designated by the reproduction start instruction is determined as the target audio file. The target audio file is an audio file designated by the external control device 17 or an audio file predetermined for each external control device 17. Furthermore, when it is detected that the time of the schedule has arrived, an audio file that is set to be reproduced at that time in the schedule is determined as the target audio file.

  Next, in step S11, it is determined whether there is an audio file being reproduced (reproduced audio file). If it is determined in step S12 that there is a reproduced audio file, the process proceeds to step S13, and the priority of the reproduced audio file being reproduced is extracted from the data of the audio file. In step S14, the priority of the target audio file determined in step S10 is extracted from the data of the audio file. Then, in step S15, the level relationship between the priority of the reproduced audio file extracted in step S13 and the priority of the target audio file extracted in step S14 is compared. If it is determined in step S16 that the target audio file has a lower priority, the process proceeds to step S17 to wait for reproduction of the target audio file, and the reproduction start process ends. If it is determined in step S16 that the target audio file has a higher priority or the same priority, the process branches to step S19 to stop playback of the playback audio file and wait. Is done. Next, the reproduction of the target audio file is started in step S20, and the reproduction start process ends.

  If it is determined in step S12 that there is no reproduced audio file, the process branches to step S18 to start reproduction of the target audio file, and the reproduction start process ends. When the reproduction in step S18 or step S20 described above is started, the reproduction process of the target audio file is started. In this reproduction process, each sample data of, for example, PCM format recorded in the target audio file is sequentially read out and sent to the audio circuit 20, and the audio circuit 20 and the sound system 19 use the PCM data conventionally known. A process for reproducing sound using a reproduction technique is performed. Then, when the playback of the audio file is stopped, the playback process is stopped.

Next, a flowchart of the reproduction stop process executed in the reproduction apparatus 1 is shown in FIG.
The playback stop process shown in FIG. 3 is the last data in the audio file being played back when an instruction to stop playback of the audio file is detected, or when the operation of the stop switch in the operation unit 15 is detected by the detection circuit 16. It is activated with any one of the times when it is detected to have been played back as a trigger. When the reproduction stop process is started, it is checked whether there is an audio file waiting in step S30, and it is determined whether there is an audio file waiting in step S31. In this case, if the target audio file is awaited in step S17 of the reproduction start process, or if the reproduction audio file is awaited in step S19, the process proceeds to step S32 where YES is determined. In step S32, the reproduction process of the reproduced audio file that has been reproduced is stopped. Next, the reproduction of the audio file waiting in step S33 is started, and the reproduction stop process ends.

  If it is determined in step S31 that there is no waiting audio file, the process branches to step S34 to determine whether or not the reproduced audio file data has been reproduced to the end. Here, when the instruction to stop the reproduction of the audio file is detected as the cause of the start of the reproduction stop process, and when the operation of the stop switch in the operation unit 15 is detected by the detection circuit 16, the reproduction audio file is only halfway. Since it is not reproduced, it is determined as NO and the process branches to step S38. In step S38, the playback process of the playback audio file that has been played back is stopped, and the playback stop process ends. Further, when it is detected that the cause of the start of the reproduction stop process is reproduced up to the last data in the reproduced audio file, YES is determined in step S34 and the process proceeds to step S35. In step S35, it is checked whether or not the reproduction audio file being reproduced is set to be reproduced repeatedly, and it is determined whether or not it is set in step S36. Here, when the playback audio file is an audio file such as BGM and is set to be repeatedly played back, it is determined YES and the process proceeds to step S37 to start playback again from the beginning of the playback audio file. Is activated, and the playback stop process is terminated. If it is determined in step S36 that the playback is not set to be repeated, the process branches to step S38 to stop the playback process of the playback audio file that has been played as described above, and the playback stop process ends. To do.

  In the playback apparatus 1 described above, the playback track is set as one track and one audio file is played back simultaneously. However, a plurality of playback tracks are provided so that a plurality of audio files are played back simultaneously. You can also. In this case, for each priority and each audio file, the reproduction volume mixing ratio when a plurality of audio files are simultaneously reproduced is defined according to the priority difference and recorded as a table. When an instruction to start playback of a new target audio file is detected, it is determined whether there is a playback audio file. If there is a playback audio file, the priority of the playback audio file and the target audio file is compared. The difference is detected, and the mixing ratio of the playback audio file and the target audio file is determined from the detected difference and the table, and the playback volume of each of the playback audio file and the target audio file is determined based on the determined mixing ratio. Is set, and the playback audio file and the target audio file are simultaneously played at the set playback volume. With this configuration, when a playback instruction for a new high-priority audio file is given, the low-priority audio file being played is not stopped and is sufficiently larger than the volume of the high-priority audio file. Can be played at a low volume. Note that the mixture ratio may be determined by receiving the mixture ratio when an instruction to start reproduction is given.

Furthermore, when the difference in priority is within a predetermined value, the playback sounds of a plurality of audio files are mixed and output. When the difference in priority is greater than a predetermined value, priority is given as described above. You may control to stop reproduction | regeneration of an audio file with a low degree.
Furthermore, the playback apparatus 1 can simultaneously play (output) other audio signals (external signals) such as a microphone input such as an announcement in addition to the audio file. In this case, the playback sound of the audio file and the external signal are mixed and output, and the volume ratio of the playback sound of the audio file and the external signal at this time is played back simultaneously with the multiple audio files. It can be controlled by the same configuration as. In this case, of the audio file and the external signal, the one reproduced first is regarded as a reproduction audio file, and the one reproduced later is regarded as a target audio file. This mixing ratio is set by the user according to the importance of the sound such as the announcement input from the microphone, or automatically set according to the priority of the audio file being played back. can do. Specifically, the amplification degree of the amplifier of the audio file to be reproduced and the amplification degree of the amplifier of the microphone input are controlled according to the mixing ratio, and the outputs of both amplifiers are mixed and output in the mixer.

  Further, when an operation program such as a reproduction program is not stored in the ROM 11, the operation program or data is stored in a hard disk or a CD-ROM and read into the RAM 12 or connected to a server computer via the communication interface 18. Then, by downloading the operation program and data from the server computer, the CPU 10 may be caused to perform the same operation as when the operation program and data are stored in the ROM 11.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of an audio file provided with the reproduction | regeneration program of the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart of the reproduction | regeneration start process performed in the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart of the reproduction | regeneration stop process performed in the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Playback apparatus, 10 CPU, 11 ROM, 12 RAM, 13 Display part, 14 Display circuit, 15 Operation part, 16 Detection circuit, 17 External control device, 18 Communication interface, 19 Sound system, 20 Audio circuit, 21 Communication bus

Claims (2)

Storage means for storing a plurality of audio files each having a priority set;
Detection means for detecting an instruction to start playback of the audio file;
A discriminating unit for discriminating whether another audio file is being reproduced when the detecting unit detects a start instruction;
When the discriminating means discriminates that another audio file is being reproduced, the priority of the audio file being reproduced and the designated audio file is compared, and if the priority of the audio file being reproduced is high, The playback of the audio file that is being played continues to be controlled so that playback of the specified audio file does not start. If the priority of the audio file that is being played is not high, the audio file that is being played is instructed. Control means for controlling to start playing the audio file;
A playback apparatus comprising: A computer comprising storage means for storing a plurality of audio files each having a priority set;
Detection means for detecting an instruction to start playback of the audio file;
A discriminating unit for discriminating whether another audio file is being reproduced when the detecting unit detects a start instruction;
When the discriminating means discriminates that another audio file is being reproduced, the priority of the audio file being reproduced and the designated audio file is compared, and if the priority of the audio file being reproduced is high, Controls the playback of the audio file being played to continue so that playback of the specified audio file does not start. If the priority of the specified audio file is high, the specified audio file is replaced A reproduction program characterized by functioning as a control means for controlling reproduction of a file.

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